<<< April 2009 >>>

Also see Outfest Wednesdays!

[Spielberg Theatre] PRELUDE TO HAPPINESS, 1974, 90 min. Directed by Gidney Talley Jr., and written and produced by Robert Pinkerton. Once again FFN brings you a film so rare and quirky, you won’t be able to stand it. Imagine an amputee love affair filmed like a low budget Douglas Sirk melodrama, crossed with an even lower budget episode of "As The World Turns," with bad acting, bad hair and more booms in shots than a reality show. Sue Imes (Rose Petra) loses her leg in an auto accident, and her fiancée dumps her. Then dashing young doctor (Gary Lee Davis), who amputated her leg, falls madly in love with her. What could possibly happen to her next?! This amazing mid-1970s sleaze soap opera exploitation classic was thought to have been lost. This is the only feature length film to even dare to present the subject of amputee fetish. It is an extremely rare, earnest, bold and bizarre film. Trailer

SPECIAL ADDED BONUS: In honor of the passing of the great Bettie Page (April 22,1923 --December 11, 2008), FFN will present short film clips from Bettie’s collaboration with Irving Klaw, the creator of contemporary fetish film. The combination of Miss Page and Mr. Klaw was never recognized, nor respected during their era, in fact they were prosecuted and forced to end their collaboration. Now fifty years later, FFN is proud to give them long overdue tribute.

(These programs are from DVD sources, and the impossibly rare PRELUDE is not in pristine shape.) FFN is once-monthly series hosted by Rick Castro of Antebellum Gallery, the only fetish art gallery in the world, located directly next to the American Cinematheque. www.antebellum.us.ms. Each screening will be followed by an informal discussion and debate with the audience. All screenings for this series will have fetish as the main theme and subject matter. Rick Castro is an independent curator, filmmaker and photographer working and living in Los Angeles his entire life. Castro explores the worlds of fetish and subculture. Rick’s photography is in the permanent collections of the Alfred Kinsey Institute. His books and magazines are archived at the UCLA Library and the Leather Museum in Chicago. See www.antebellum.us.ms and www.rickcastro.com for more information.) This series is for audiences 18 and over. Discussion following the film with the audience, moderated by Rick Castro.

For the total “Old Hollywood” experience take a docent-led tour of the legendary 1922 Egyptian Theatre. See what it would have been like to be in a Grauman stage show with a visit to the dressing rooms and singers' boxes. Check out our state-of-the-art projection booth and more! Discover the painstaking restoration work and the marriage of modern technology with a landmark of Hollywood history. Tours will start promptly at 10:30 AM at the box office. Tours are approximately 60 min. Wear your walking shoes! You will see the old dressing rooms, the singer's boxes and the projection booth (not normally included on our tours). Reservations are not required, we have room for everyone. You can check our website or our voicemail for emergency cancellations. Tours will be held rain or shine.
Tickets: Tour & movie: $10.

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 2:00 PM

"Dr. Zarkov, Ask the Robot to Fetch My Zeppelin: Art Deco Era Imagines the Future"

Co-Presented with the Art Deco Society Los Angeles

In this lecture (approx. 45 min.), delivered in Walter Nelson's usual witty style, Nelson examines the future as it was viewed in the past. The lecture is followed by a screening of THINGS TO COME. The 1920s and 30s were a time of rapid technological change, and those who experienced it expected that change would continue at the same hectic pace into the future.  In extrapolating from their own time, they foresaw a time of mega-cities, robot servants, space ships, giant aircraft and any number of other scientific wonders.   They also generally saw the future as a better place than the present (especially during the Great Depression) and the Art Deco style of design embraced that optimistic view.

THINGS TO COME, 1936, 100 min. Director William Cameron Menzies (INVADERS FROMMARS) directs H. G. Wells' apocalyptic sci-fi novel, with input from Wells himself. A World War that begins in 1940 lasts until 1966 when a plague hits the planet and destroy's half the population. Isolated primitive communities struggle through, but it soon becomes apparent a pocket of humanity has not only survived war and disease but has made enormous strides in techonological achievement and design. With Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson. (Screened from a digital source).

Walter Nelson has been involved in numerous aspects of public history for over thirty years, and has participated in hundreds of living history programs in the US and Britain covering eras from the Middle Ages to the Second World War.  He has lectured on topics such as Victorian etiquette, historical games, phrenology, historical costume and the history of dance.

He has been involved in organizing highly successful "Vintage Dance" programs such as the "Jane Austen Evening" and the "Avalon Ball".  He also works as a consultant in historical programs for organizations like the Huntington Library, The Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Rancho Los Cerritos. Audience members are encouraged to come in Futuristic Costumes... Steam Punks, 1930s Aliens, Flash Gordon... are all welcome!

For the total “Old Hollywood” experience take a docent-led tour of the legendary 1922 Egyptian Theatre. See what it would have been like to be in a Grauman stage show with a visit to the dressing rooms and singers' boxes. Check out our state-of-the-art projection booth and more! Discover the painstaking restoration work and the marriage of modern technology with a landmark of Hollywood history. Tours will start promptly at 10:30 AM at the box office. Tours are approximately 60 min. Wear your walking shoes! You will see the old dressing rooms, the singer's boxes and the projection booth (not normally included on our tours). Reservations are not required, we have room for everyone. You can check our website or our voicemail for emergency cancellations. Tours will be held rain or shine.
Tickets: $5. Tour & movie: $10.

What inspires the visual and narrative construction of a Scorsese, Yimou, Lynch, Miyazaki, Coen or Dardenne Brothers film?

Whether it is Surrealism and German Expressionism of the 20s, French Poetic
Realism of the 30s, Italian Neo Realism of the 40s, the French New Wave and
the Italian Renaissance Cinema of the 50s and 60s, the New German Cinema of
the 70s or even Dogma 95 Cinema of the late 90s, European Film Movements have often been sighted as focal points to understanding and appreciating the work of our reigning, contemporary masters of cinema.

For most of us, it is easy to find the surrealist impulses in a David Lynch film. That is easy.

But did you know that the masterworks of Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, Paul
Thomas Anderson, David Cronenberg, Mike Leigh (to say nothing of Hitchcock,
Sayajit Ray, John Cassavetes, and Akira Kurosawa), owe a heavy debt of
gratitude to French Poetic Realists, the Italian Masters of the 60s, and the New German Cinema artists of the 70s? What exactly can be said about the current American Independent scene with out acknowledging its ties to Dogma 95 and Neo Realism?

In this artistically empowering seminar, film consultant Thomas Ethan Harris will define what film movements are, how and why they come to exist and why certain film movements continue to inspire film artists today.

Close attention will be place on the tenants that define each European Film Movement before boldly demonstrating on how these traditions have been so uniquely and creatively embraced and integrated into the work of so many of today¹s most acclaimed filmmakers.

Film clips will be used to inspire an open dialogue with the audience.

So join us as we connect the dots to discover what exactly inspires a film artist!

Great works of art don't just happen! They are born from creative inspiration!

Our WHAT INSPIRES AN ARTIST seminar is another offering to move emerging filmmakers to think more deeply and more creatively about the construction of their images and the necessity of creating a more intricate, complex and personally realized cinema. Moving beyond the most basic forms of cinematic language is essential to having the film career you want. Learning how to effectively embrace and understand the functionality of the primary visualizing components of great cinematic construction (the close-up, the long take, mise-en scene, color schemes, film editing styles, sound design, production designs) is critical to establishing yourself in the U.S.¹s crowded film arena.

To make great cinema is to know what came before and transcend it!

We hope that you will join us!In this informative seminar, film festival programmer/film consultant Thomas Ethan Harris (former Director of Programming, Los Angeles Film Festival and Palm Springs International Short Film Festival) will examine the European Film Movements that have defined contemporary filmmaking. For more details click here. Seminar Tickets: $20 General Admission, $15 Student/Senior with valid I.D.; $12 Members of the Cinematheque.

Plus introduction by hunky actor Josef Brown who plays Johnny Castle in the stage play!!!

DIRTY DANCING, 1987, Lionsgate, 100 min. As Los Angeles gets ready to welcome "Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage," the worldwide musical smash on May 8, the Cinematheque takes a look at the film that started it all. The one, the only, DIRTY DANCING, directed by Emile Ardolino and starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. Jennifer Grey stars as Frances “Baby” Houseman, a college-bound 17-year old spending the summer of 1963 at a Catskills resort with her family. When she falls for working class dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) her world opens up, but her doctor father (Jerry Orbach) puts an end to the romance.But, "Nobody puts Baby in the corner!"

Kenny Ortega the choreographer of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL also choreographed this film.

The film will be shown at 4:00 PM preceded by the sort of events you might have enjoyed as a guest at Kellerman's Resort - here, presented in the Egyptian Theatre courtyard - including dance lessons from professional instructors, a comedian, giveaways and more! Singles welcome, as we’ll have multiple dance instructors on hand. Audience members will also have an opportunity to win tickets to the stage play at the Pantages Theatre. So bring your dancing shoes and come dressed to do some of your own "dirty dancing." Plus introduction by hunky actor Josef Brown who plays Johnny Castle in the stage play!!!

About the Stage Play:
This event is a kick-off party for "Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage," the worldwide musical smash that is having its pre-Broadway, West Coast premiere right here in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre! The movie is a legendary entertainment phenomenon. The soundtrack is simply unforgettable. And now you can experience "Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage" as never before. Reimagined for the stage by the original screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein, it is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing. Step inside the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives - told by a tremendous cast of 39 and featuring 35 hit songs, including "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping Academy Award Winning song, "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life." Everything you remember from the movie comes to life, with brand-new songs and scenes that make the story resonate more deeply with fans and newcomers alike. Don’t miss your chance to see this truly spectacular musical theater event, in a strictly limited engagement before it goes to Broadway. Click here for the official website.   Trailer

SPOTLIGHT ON PUBLICITY: The Evolution of the Industry… 50 Years Ago to Today

As instantaneous news sources continue to multiply in our brave new electronic information age (even faster than print publications demise), it is clear that the scope of publicity has changed drastically in the past two years. Compared to the advent of television (or even the eventual proliferation of hundreds of cable channels), this revolution is more powerful and more absolute. In an age before Twitter (Was that only last year?) and before bloggers replaced the all-powerful handful of taste-making columnists, the media controlled the message. Now everyone has free access to expressing an opinion in a worldwide forum where millions can view posts instantly. There has been a complete shift of power from an era when, as a desperate press agent in THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, Tony Curtis stopped at nothing to get a Walter Winchell-esque columnist to spill some ink on his client. And, can you imagine, he actually had to sit up nervously all night to grab a paper hot off the press to see if he made it in?

SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, 1957, MGM Repertory, 96 min. Tony Curtis gives his greatest performance as cutthroat press agent Sidney Falco, willing to sell his soul to syndicated columnist Burt Lancaster for a few lines of copy, in director Alexander Mackendrick’s dark, glittering gem of a movie -- one of the most frightening and seductive films of the 1950s. Brilliantly scripted by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman, with stunning, mood-drenched B&W photography by the legendary James Wong Howe. Match me, Sidney… Join us on the occasion of the publication of veteran publicist Howard Bragman’s new book, Where’s My Fifteen Minutes (Penguin Group) to watch the film, preceded by a booksigning. Howard Bragman will introduce the film. The previously announced panel will not take place as originally announced, due to a scheduling conflict.  Trailer www.WheresMyFifteenMinutes.com